Books: parents' favourites

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There are so many books to choose from these days, it's hard to know which ones your child will want to return to over and over again. It's a bonus to find a book that you don't get bored with, and will hopefully teach your child something along the way.

We asked some parents to share their family's favourite storybooks. Here's what they recommend.

Which books are best for babies under 12 months?

Part of the hugely popular series, every double page of this chunky board book features an interesting texture for your baby to touch. The familiarity of repetition is nicely combined with the different sensory experience each page has to offer.

Jo, mum to Hayden, six, and Martha, two, from London: "This was one of the few favourite books of Hayden’s that, although well-used, was strong enough to still be readable to Martha."

Peepo! Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Janet Ahlberg
Puffin, £6.99

A modern classic, Peepo! remains a firm favourite with both babies and parents.

Lucy, mum to Bertie, 17 months, from Norfolk: "Bertie loves playing Peepo!, so the repetition of ‘Peepo!’ throughout the book excites him. The pictures are so intricate it’s a firm favourite with me too."

Faces (Baby’s Very First Books)John Fordham
Macmillan Children’s Books, £4.99
A soft cloth book with a mix of high-contrast images, crinkly pages and mirror, to stimulate the senses. Your baby will love looking in the mirror and at the friendly animal images.

Rebecca, mum to Becky, six months, from south London: "Becky always tries to grasp this book first. I think she likes the crinkly sounds it makes when she's sucking or scrunching it!"

A big, bright and colourful book, although slightly too large to be held comfortably by a baby. Ideal for sharing though, with each page depicting a line from the nursery rhyme that’s acted out by a different baby.

David, dad to Nicholas, 10 months, from Chester: "I have to do the singing while we look at the book. At the end Nicholas shouts out, and claps in appreciation. When he wants to look at the book, he touches his head and begins to hum."

The Rainbow Fish Bath BookMarcus Pfister
North-South Books, £5.99

An easy-to-hold bath book with lovely illustrations, bright colours, shiny scales and a nice message about sharing.

Hilary, mum to Seren, 11 months, from Bristol: "Now Seren's confident sitting up in the bath, she turns the pages of this beloved book as if she could read every word. Unlike some bath books, the soft plastic pages have no sharp edges to cut when it inevitably goes into her mouth."

Poor little monkey has lost his mum, but will the butterfly be able to help him find her? An endearing tale about the bond between mother and child. Perfect from an early age, this book will be a firm favourite in your little one's library for quite a few years.

Joanne, mum to George, 20 months, from Belfast: "This is a fantastic book for reading out loud to your little one. The rhyming is a delight and George loves hearing me make the noises of all the different animals."

How far can love go? Little Nutbrown Hare tries to tell Big Nutbrown Hare how much he loves him, even as far as the moon. But Big Nutbrown Hare always shows him his love can go a little bit further, in fact, right up to the moon and back.

Dan, dad to Tom, 18 months, from Bexleyheath: "I like the way this book shows how love can be endless and conveys how much love a parent can have for a child. I'm not sure how much Tom understands it yet, but I know he loves me reading it."

Dear ZooRod Campbell
Campbell Books, £5.99

Lift the flap to find out which animal has been sent from the zoo and why it was sent back. Some animals were too heavy, too tall or too grumpy. Finally, the perfect animal arrives.

Maisy books have been popular for years, but each successive title becomes a favourite with new readers. In this shaped book, Lucy Cousins' vibrant illustrations show Maisy doing activities your child can relate to in her life. See Maisy dressing up, painting and paddling.

Sarah, mum to Gemma, 13 months, from Bagshott: "I think Maisy books are clever at highlighting to your child what is going on in her life through simple yet descriptive illustrations. Not that Gemma is thinking that deeply about it, of course!"

Which books are best for toddlers aged 25 to 36 months?

Rhyme, repetition and the wonderful use of onomatopoeic words (such as swishy-swashy) make it a joy to read aloud. Simple, but beautifully drawn illustrations have turned this tale of a family happily hunting for a bear (and eventually finding one) into a classic.

Mick, dad to Chloe, three years, from Matlock: "I don't know a family that doesn't own and love this book. Chloe loves me reading it, faster and faster with excitement, as they find a bear and it chases them home!"

The GruffaloJulia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Campbell Books, £6.99

A brilliant tale of a brave mouse who bluffs his way out of trouble with the other animals, while walking through the woods.

Alex, dad to Cameron, two years, from south west London: "The amusing illustrations and rhythmic, descriptive text set this imaginative book apart from the rest. I love reading it just as much, if not more, than Cameron does listening to it!"

Each Peach Pear PlumJanet and Allan Ahlberg
Picture Puffin, £4.99

Through the words and detailed illustrations of this book, favourite nursery rhyme characters link each page. Each finely drawn picture hides the secret to the next page's character.

Bev, mum to Scarlet, two years, from Stratford-upon-Avon: "Each picture is so detailed, Scarlet finds something new every time we look at this book. The eyes of the Three Bears peeping through the window, or the feet of Jack and Jill as they tumble down the hill. As a result, it takes ages to finish it!"

Ketchup on Your Cornflakes?Nick Sharratt
Scholastic Press, £7.99

This book will appeal to every child's sense of nonsense. Bright, eye-catching colours and illustrations. Each page is split in two, and you and your child can make up your own fun. For example, "Do you like toothpaste on your egg? Do you like jam on your toes?"

Debbie, mum to Lincoln, three years, from Falmouth: "Children love it when you deliberately say things wrong which is why I think this book is so popular. It's now a family favourite and we make up silly suggestions even without the book!"

The Tiny SeedEric Carle
Picture Puffin, £5.99

From the author of the hugely popular, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this is another beautiful and cleverly executed tale of a natural life-cycle.

Jo, mum to Hattie, three years, from Harpenden: "This story is all about the life cycle of a tiny seed. Hattie loved following the seed as it tries to find somewhere to grow while its siblings fall by the wayside. It eventually blossoms into a lovely flower."

Last reviewed: September 2014

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